One of many classic mall and retro retail internet sites, the MALL HALL OF FAME is a "Mid-mod Mall Museum", centered on American shopping centers built during the mid-20th century (1946-1979).
There are short articles, photos, and at least one physical layout drawing for every mall inducted.
Please check your favorite mall articles often as new content is frequently being added.

NORTH STAR MALL
San Pedro Avenue and West Rector Road
San Antonio, Texas

NORTH STAR MALL was the fourth regional retail hub built by Maryland's James W. Rouse Company and the third endeavor of its Community Research & Development Corporation subsidiary. The complex occupied a 53.9 acre tract, located 9 miles north of downtown San Antonio. The site was adjacent to a newly-completed stretch of the "Loop 13" Expressway (later known as "Loop I-410 / John Connally Loop").

Construction commenced on an eastward expansion in February 1963, with the project being completed in October 1964. A large court area now fronted on a 2-level (93,600 square foot), San Antonio-based, Frost Brothers. The existing Wolff & Marx has also been enlarged into a 100,000 square foot store.

On December 25, 1964, the General Cinema Corporation Cinema I & II North Star Mall showed its first features. The theater extended from the new eastward addition, but was not accessible from the interior mallway. It increased the center's GLA to approximately 472,300 square feet.

CENTRAL PARK MALL became a primary competitor in 1968. This complex was built on a parcel west of NORTH STAR MALL. Other shopping hubs in the vicinity included WONDERLAND SHOPPING CITY (1961) {3.5 miles southwest, in Balcones Heights}, McCRELESS SHOPPING CITY (1962-2007) {9.4 miles south, in San Antonio}, INGRAM PARK MALL (1979) {8 miles southwest, in San Antonio} and ROLLING OAKS MALL (1988) {9.9 miles northeast, also in San Antonio}.

A second eastern addition to NORTH STAR MALL, the Phase III / "La Fuente Del Sol" expansion, was completed in 1970. The mallway was extended over to a 5-level (204,000 square foot), San Antonio-based Joske's, which had opened in 1969.

The existing twin cinema was incorporated into the enclosed mall at this time and a 2-level parking deck built in the southeast corner of the site. In 1970, Wolff & Marx came under the (Phoenix-based) Rhodes Southwest banner, which was rebranded as Liberty House / Rhodes a few years later. The store became a full-fledged Liberty House on August 8, 1977.

The next renovation of the retail complex was done in the early 1980s, when the H-E-B supermarket and Walgreen Drug, on the west end, were razed and replaced with a 3-level (204,000 square foot), Houston-based, Foley's. This store held its grand opening in the summer of 1981.

In 1982, court areas were installed in a vacant Liberty House space. The first, known as the Star Court, occupied the building's main level and was flanked by stores such as Brook's Fashions, Montalvo's, Mission Jewelry and Jade Tree Oriental Furniture. It appears that the mall's first Food Court was also situated in this area.

The basement level of the building was refitted as the Music Court, which included a record store, musical instrument store, Expensive Toys for Big Boys and an Oshman's Sporting Goods. A parking garage, at the northeast corner of the mall, was also completed in 1983.

A fourth addition to NORTH STAR MALL was built in the mid-1980s. This added two concourses to the existing structure. A 2-level (104,000 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue, anchoring a new Northeast Wing, opened for business in the fall of 1985.

This store dedication was followed by one for a 3-level (178,000 square foot) Marshall Field's. It stood at the end of a new Northwest Wing andwelcomed its first shoppers in October 1986. The new concourse included a 14-bay Food Court; which was the second culinary complex to operate in the mall.

A third parking structure was built at the northwest corner of the complex. Moreover, the Foley's store was enlarged to 256,000 square feet, via a northward extension. A shuttered cinema was also gutted and reconfigured as inline store space.

With these modifications, the mall encompassed approximately 1,260,000 leasable square feet and contained over two hundred stores and services. A fourth parking structure was added to the southwest corner of the complex in the early 1990s.

Several anchor store changes occurred over the ensuing years. Joske's was rebranded as a Dillard's in April 1987. In mid-1989, Frost Brothers was liquidated. Its former store space became a Mervyn's on October 25, 1992. January 1997 brought the shuttering of Marshall Field's, which re-opened, as a Macy's, June 6, 1997. This store's liquidation sale commenced in July 2005.

Ownership of the mall also changed over the decades. The Rouse Company sold a 63 percent share to Holland-based Rodamco in 1974. An additional 32 percent share was acquired by Rodamco in the year 2000.

In early 2002, the Rouse Company repurchased the 95 percent share of the mall and reestablished full ownership. Chicago-based General Growth Properties acquired the Rouse Company in 2004 and, in the process, assumed full ownership of NORTH STAR MALL.

In 2004, GGP announced a major face lift for the shopping center, which was finished in 2005. This project installed soft seating areas, tile flooring, landscaping and new ceiling treatments. Mall entrances were also rebuilt and the Food Court refurbished.

Macy's returned to NORTH STAR MALL after a 14-month hiatus. The merchandiser rebranded stores in the Foley's chain on September 9, 2006. J.C. Penney opened a store, in the old Marshall Field's / Macy's location, on July 29, 2007.

The most recent anchor alteration at NORTH STAR MALL transpired after the shuttering of Mervyn's, in December 2008. The vacant building, and a strip of inline stores running along its north side, were rebuilt into eight new retail spaces.

Los Angeles-based Forever 21 opened a 2-level (80,900 spare foot) store in the largest space on August 28, 2010. The remaining slots were taken by Aldo Shoes, Guess Accessories, Vera Bradley, Guess by Marciano, Cache', Sunglass Hut and Marble Slab Creamery.

home

Comments & Suggestions

Now on the Mall Hall of fame

The first shopping mall in Hawai'i has recently been inducted! Moanalua Center was in operation between 1954 and 2005.

recently updated

We, at the MHoF, observe the recent demolition of Michigan's Northland Center; one of the first major shopping malls in the USA. New photos, and a 1954 tenant list, have been added to our write-up.

the big three

A photo and image essay about America's major mid-tier retail chains

A Disclaimer

Although all articles and special features on the MHoF have been thoroughly researched, we cannot guarantee that all information is 100 percent accurate . As many may be aware, the internet is rife with incorrect -and often conflicting- data. We even find glaring errors in so-called "scholarly sources" such as reference-type books and newspapers. In spite of these setbacks, we strive to provide the most factual information possible.

in the beginning (1917-1943)

Innovative retail facilities that led to the development of the post-war shopping center and mall.